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Neighborhood Council takes on Walmart crises

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In response to the unexpected closing of the Baldwin Hills Walmart, the Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council last Thursday held a special meeting to detail the situation and invite community residents and stakeholders to attend meetings of a working group being formed and designed to offer suggestions and input about what should replace the giant retailer.

At least 50 people showed up at the Vision Theatre last Thursday including representatives form the offices of 8th District Councilman Marqueece Dawson-Harris and State Sen. Holly Mitchell.

Attendees were told that the pull out of Walmart was a complete surprise to elected officials as well as to the owners of the mall, Capri Capital, who had been in the mist of renegotiating the renewal of the store’s lease.

Since 2003, Walmart had occupied an approximately 150,000-feet of leaseble space in the mall formerly held by one of the founding stores in the plaza—Broadway, which opened in 1947.

In addition to explaining why the Walmart left the plaza, council members attempted to dispel rumors that the store was driven out by internal and external pilferage.

In fact, a number of people mentioned that the location was one of the top revenue generating locations. Beyond exploring the financials, participants talked about what impact the closure could have on other major tenants in the mall and efforts to attract replacement retail.

There was also a discussion of the resources that were being offered the store’s employees who will continue working until Feb. 10 to clean up the store. Among the sources that will be offered are a series of on-site job fairs, which will be open to the Walmart associates and the public.

“The mayor believes that everyone in our city deserves convenient access to retail options. Losing a business of this size is also difficult, impacting hundreds of employees who are now looking for work.

That is why, immediately after the store closure was announced, the mayor’s Economic Development Team began working with the owners of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza to launch the search of a new retailer to fill this space. We have also mobilized the Economic and Workforce Development Department’s Rapid Response Team to offer support services to the workers who have been abruptly displaced. We are linking them to the State’s Employment Development Department to get them access to the benefits they are entitled to. And we are also making training and employment services available, to ensure they get back on their feet,”said Kelli Bernard, deputy mayor for Economic Development.

Those interested in getting involved in the working group or donating resources, can contact the Empowerment Congress West at www.ecwandc.org or (323) 325-1821.

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